The United States Department of Agriculture-Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) is proposing a project sponsored by the Silver Lake Irrigation District to repair Silver Lake Dam. The purpose of the federal action is to address public safety concerns of a dam originally constructed under low hazard criteria that has become re-classified as high hazard and to provide/maintain a reliable, efficient, and safe water supply to sustain the agricultural community in northern Sublette County. The proposed project would be funded by NRCS through the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act (Public Law [PL] 83-566). These actions would be implemented within the Bridger Wilderness on the Pinedale Ranger District of the Bridger Teton National Forest. The Forest Service would consider authorizing the land use under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (Public Law [PL] 94-579), while assuring compliance with other relevant law, including the Wilderness Act (Public Law [PL] 88-577).

NRCS is conducting public scoping as part of the Environmental Assessment to provide information about the conceptual design and to collect public comments. The Bridger-Teton National Forest is a National Environmental Policy Act cooperating agency. The public is invited to review additional scoping information at: Https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/events/. Comments and questions should be directed to: Shawn Follum, P.E. NRCS Wyoming, 100 East B Street, PO Box 33124, Casper, WY 82602-5011. Or email to [email protected].

The Forest Service responsible official, Forest Supervisor, Bridger-Teton National Forest has determined that this is an opportunity to comment pursuant to 36 CFR 218 (Objection). Only those who submit timely and specific written comments regarding the proposed project during a public comment period established by the responsible official are eligible to file an objection. Each individual or representative from each entity submitting these comments must either sign the comments or verify identity upon request. Legal notices will be published in the Casper Star-Tribune and Pinedale Roundup. To establish objection eligibility standing you must submit a comment within 30 days of the publication of the legal notice in the Casper Star-Tribune. The Casper Star-Tribune alone is the newspaper of record for the Bridger-Teton National Forest. Written comments must be submitted to NRCS Wyoming or to Forest Supervisor, Bridger-Teton National Forest. Physical Address: 340 North Cache Street Jackson, WY 83001. Mailing Address: PO Box 1888 Jackson, WY 83001. Phone: 307-739-5500. Fax: Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm (Closed on federal holidays).